A 17th century country house in rural Northumberland with fantastic equestrian facilities
Apperley Farm, near the village of Stocksfield, Northumbria, is a beautiful family home with plenty of space for both relaxing and entertaining. Penny Churchill takes a look.


Across the county border in Northumberland, Oliver Custance Baker of Strutt & Parker’s Country Department quotes a guide price of £2.2m for Grade II-listed Apperley Farm near Stocksfield, an impressive country house set in 12 acres of gardens, woodland and apple orchards, with excellent equestrian facilities, including a stable block, a floodlit arena and several paddocks.
In medieval times, the small township of Apperley comprised a compact, 428-acre estate in the ancient parish of Bywell St Peter, which had a population of 25 in 1891. Apperley Farmhouse stands close to the northern and western slopes of a range of hills that form the watershed between the valleys of the Tyne and the Derwent.
The house, which dates from the 17th century, looks southwards towards the chapel of Whittonstall, where the Boutflower family, who owned the Apperley estate from the turbulent 1600s to the 1760s, worshipped and were buried.
Following the death of William Boutflower in 1766, the Apperley estate was acquired by the Surtees family of Hamsterley.
In the 1930s, the farmhouse was extended and remodelled by Field-Marshal Viscount John Standish Surtees Gort of the Grenadier Guards, a distinguished soldier who fought in the two World Wars and was Commander-in-Chief of the British Expeditionary Force that went to France in 1939. He died in March 1946.
According to Historic England, Lord Gort ‘re-used old material and architectural features from Newcastle and elsewhere’ to create the handsome stone house, which now offers 5,200sq ft of light and cheerful living space, including three large reception rooms, a family kitchen/breakfast room, five/six bedrooms and three bath/shower rooms.
The present owners, who bought Apperley Farm in 2012, have further improved the house, converting the second floor into a spacious master suite and installing a biomass boiler.
Sign up for the Country Life Newsletter
Exquisite houses, the beauty of Nature, and how to get the most from your life, straight to your inbox.
Apperley Farm is currently on the market via Strutt & Parker with a guide price of £2.2 million — see more pictures or enquire with the agent for further details.
Credit: Strutt and Parker
Best country houses for sale this week
An irresistible West Country cottage and a magnificent Cumbrian country house make our pick of the finest country houses for
-
'The watch is Head Boy of men’s accessorising': Ginnie Chadwyck-Healey and Tom Chamberlin's Summer Season style secrets
When it comes to dressing for the Season, accessories will transform an outfit. Ginnie Chadwyck-Healey and Tom Chamberlin, both stylish summer-party veterans, offer some sage advice.
By Country Life Published
-
Lewis Hamilton, Claude Monet and the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse: Country Life Quiz of the Day, April 29, 2025
Tuesday's Quiz of the Day looks back at Lewis Hamilton's first win and ponders on the meaning of greige.
By Toby Keel Published
-
About time: The fastest and slowest moving housing markets revealed
New research by Zoopla has shown where it's easy to sell and where it will take quite a while to find a buyer.
By Annabel Dixon Last updated
-
A wisteria clad hall built by one of the founders of the Bank of England
Come for the history of Old Hall. Stay for the interesting interiors.
By Annabel Dixon Published
-
A gorgeous Scottish cottage with contemporary interiors on the bonny banks of the River Tay
Carnliath on the edge of Strathtay is a delightful family home set in sensational scenery.
By James Fisher Published
-
Six rural properties with space, charm and endless views, as seen in Country Life
We take a look at some of the best houses to come to the market via Country Life in the past week.
By Toby Keel Published
-
380 acres and 90 bedrooms on the £25m private island being sold by one of Britain's top music producers
Stormzy, Rihanna and the Rolling Stones are just a part of the story at Osea Island, a dot on the map in the seas off Essex.
By Lotte Brundle Published
-
A home cinema, tasteful interiors and 65 acres of private parkland hidden in an unassuming lodge in Kent
North Lodge near Tonbridge may seem relatively simple, but there is a lot more than what meets the eye.
By James Fisher Published
-
A rare opportunity to own a family home on Vanbrugh Terrace, one of London's finest streets
This six-bedroom Victorian home sits right on the start line of the London Marathon, with easy access to Blackheath and Greenwich Park.
By James Fisher Published
-
A tale of everyday life as lived on Britain's most expensive street
Winnington Road in Hampstead has an average house price of £11.9 million. But what's it really like? Lotte Brundle went to find out.
By Lotte Brundle Last updated